TIJUANA  King Midas couldn’t get it done. Now El Piojo gets his shot.

The Louse.

Miguel “El Piojo” Herrera has played for Mexico’s national soccer team in Qualcomm Stadium, in 1994, and now he’ll coach it there when El Tri “hosts” Finland on Wednesday night in a friendly that suddenly takes on urgency as the team takes on water.

Herrera wasn’t supposed to be here this week, wasn’t supposed to be facing a firing squad of 70 journalists upon his arrival at the Tijuana International Airport on Monday afternoon, wasn’t supposed to be fielding biting questions about why he replaced midfielder Lucas Lobos on his roster with 37-year-old Antonio “Zinha” Naelson barely two weeks before the two-leg playoff against New Zealand for a final spot in the World Cup.

He was supposed to be in Mexico City, preparing Club America – the team he magically returned to past glory – for defense of its Liga MX title.

Jose Manuel “Chepo” de la Torre was supposed to be here, the man hired at the beginning of the four-year World Cup cycle and the man, by all accounts, who would be still there in Brazil in 2014.

Mexico vs. Finland

What: International soccer friendly.

When: Wednesday, 8 p.m.

Where: Qualcomm Stadium

Up next: Mexico plays New Zealand on Nov. 13 and 20 in a two-leg playoff for a final spot in the 2014 World Cup.

“Of course, this is not the ideal situation,” Compean was saying two weeks ago, concern etched across his forehead, desperation in his voice. “No one likes to be switching coaches. When we hired Chepo de la Torre, it was done with the best intentions of having him for the entire (four-year) campaign. But the results weren’t there, and when that happens decisions have to be made.

And they have. A lot.

De la Torre was fired at 2:48 a.m. following a 2-1 World Cup qualifying loss to Honduras at Estadio Azteca. Fernando Tena, his lieutenant who had guided Mexico to gold at the 2012 Olympics, was handed the reins.

For four days. El Tri lost 2-0 to the United States in Columbus, Ohio, and Victor Manuel Vucetich – a k a King Midas – was hired.

He lasted two games: a 2-1 home win against Panama forged by a miraculous bicycle kick from 22-year-old substitute Raul Jimenez, and an uninspiring 2-1 loss at Costa Rica that would have meant elimination had the United States not scored in injury time at Panama to salvage a spot for El Tri in a last-chance playoff against the Kiwis.

King Midas … out. The Louse … in.

Some perspective: Only 10 men have coached Germany’s national team since 1926. Even the United States, hardly a global soccer heavyweight, has had only four coaches in the last 18 years.

Mexico: Five games, four coaches.

So it was strangely appropriate that, minutes before Herrera was scheduled to meet the media in room above baggage claim, the fire alarm went off. An emergency, indeed.

“It’s an interesting obstacle,” Herrera said of the task ahead. “Goals and challenges are not always pretty and pink, thinking that everything will be fine. No, goals aren’t like that in life.”

Now they get a neckless fireball who was booted from the national team before the 1994 World Cup after a violent, vindictive red card in qualifying. Who more recently is known for his eye-bulging, fist-pumping, rain-soaked celebration of America’s dramatic victory in the Clausura final last May. Who relentlessly berates the fourth official during games and snaps at reporters after them.

“Yes,” he said Monday, “you’re going to see an aggressive Mexico team.”

The team in green on Wednesday night also figures to look and plays an awful lot like one that wears yellow and blue. Instead of culling a roster from all corners of the earth, Herrera essentially selected it from his own locker room, with 10 players here from Club America.

Herrera likely will play his preferred 5-3-2 formation, with three central defenders flanked by wingbacks. And he’ll likely have his players flying all over the field, much like he did as a 5-foot-6 defender.

Technically, Herrera and his staff are on “loan” from Club America through the Nov. 13 and 20 series against New Zealand. After that, the Mexican federation bosses will reconvene on Dec. 2 – four days before the World Cup draw in Brazil – and chart the team’s long-range future.

El Piojo may be a part of it. Or El Tri may have its fifth head coach in three months.

“This is not my national team,” Herrera said. “This is everybody’s national team. This is Mexico’s national team. We represent it with pride. We want people to have confidence in what we’re doing. Because we know what we’re doing.”